Premarket roundup: General Motors, oil tankers

Among the premarket stories for Monday, Dec. 22, from AP Financial News:

NEW YORK (AP) _ A Credit Suisse analyst said General Motors Corp. shareholders are likely to be wiped out following the $17.4 billion bailout of the U.S. auto industry, and lowered his rating on the stock.

NEW YORK (AP) _ A pair of analysts downgraded several oil tanker companies on Monday, predicting that shipping rates might have reached their peaks as the global economy weakens and an influx of ships approaches the market.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Monday lowered its debt rating of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. after the containerboard maker warned of weakening earnings.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Credit Suisse on Monday upgraded oil and gas company Hess Corp. to "Outperform" from "Neutral" due to the expected return of investors' appetite for oil exploration.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Manpower Inc. could see increased activity Monday after the temporary-staffing company said it will incur a charge for severance and plant closure costs and pulled its fourth-quarter profit and revenue forecasts.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Demand for video teleconferencing technology sold by companies like Polycom Inc. is dropping off with the deteriorating economy and growing competition, a Jefferies & Co. analyst warned Monday as he cut his outlook for the company.